40 tonnes of debris removed
Work to clear 40 tonnes of Seaton Cliff, which was at risk of falling onto West Walk, is complete.
The town's promenade has reopened just in time for the parkrun and The Grizzly events to go ahead as planned this weekend.
The four-day excavation was carried out as part of a routine annual cliff inspection by East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) engineers. Recent heavy rainfall had caused more debris to slump and fall than normal.
Works were originally only supposed to take three days, but an extra day was required after a tension crack was discovered. The saturation of the cliff also made the material difficult to remove by hand.
Councillor Geoff Jung, Councillor Geoff Jung, portfolio holder for Coast, Country and Environment, said: “Owing to the natural effects of climate change and relentless rainfall we have endured these past months.
“The Hideaway Cafe has been open throughout, but the closure of West Walk has obviously had an impact. We would like to thank them for their patience and are very glad everything is open for this weekend’s events, which promise to see lots of people enjoying the area.
"For the team to come up with a solution at such short notice and coordinate the works is testament to their constant strive towards keeping the district open and looking its best for residents and visitors alike.”